apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have always visualized this for my floor. But - no patience to do it

Must have shredding scissors, but the site's in japanese and I don't have a clue how to order! My further limited search led me always back to same japanese site.

You could literally make your house a brick sh*t house!

Clearly, my three years at an engineering firm destroyed my sense of perspective... part of me wants to pontificate on what-all goes into a waste treatment stream, and another part thinks the recycled bricks are very cool.

why? because then you eliminate (no pun intended) the need to ship sewage sludge from Toronto to Michigan, and you avoid digging up sensitive ecosystems for clay to make bricks. This is a great idea... I'm going to write to the mayor about it.

Bathmat/slippers - absolutely ridiculous!!

Pet cave - absolutely brill!! I'm kicking myself that I didn't think of it.

That pet cave brings up one of my pet peeves. There are too many completely inappropriate "crates" for pets now. Inadequately ventilated, poorly configured...all manufactured with more consideration given to style than to making them inviting and safe for animals. If someone is such a style nut that they can't stand to have a proper crate in the house (or a soft-surfaced cat house), they should not have pets. I don't crate my animals unless they are ill or being trained, but I do keep a dog-appropriate crate available, and I have several very unstylish but practical pet beds around the house for my four-legged housemates. Please don't promote this potentially dangerous trend of style over responsible pet care!

Does anyone know where we can get those shredding scissors??? Cool. Like Pixe, I had no luck searching the web myself.

Next in my DIY list is the dog house. That's got to be the easiest save-yourself-most-of-the-$650-retail-price-ever.

I'm thinking pre-cut particle board sized for your pet for the walls, drill the entrance/exit (you can even install a hinged door with translucent window...just make sure you add some air vents somewhere if you do), nail the walls together and then either paint it or apply an eye-catching self-adhesive paper design to further personalize it (maybe add a crest with your dog or cat's name and the manor's name...how about Canine House?). Add a bed that has a complementary style to the exterior design and colors you choose as the coup de grâce!

The only semi-challenging part would be finding suitable feet for the abode. I'm thinking I can find some large squarish metal standoffs at the hardware store.

Voila!

Pat--
I don't think all these pet products are meant to replace or replicate the "crate" in the strictest sense. These are short-term pet beds.. not intended (imho) for sustained enclosure.

Um, for one thing, hard to "crate" a dog in something that doesn't have a door...

Shredding scissors would be great to have. I don't use my shredder because it is so noisy. For junk mail offers I just tear the envelope in thirds and discard. But I have years of old paystubs with my SS number on them and bank account number.

I realize that the shredding scissors are pretty cool, but unless you are shredding volumes and volumes of documents, a regular pair of scissors will do the job in just a few seconds more than the shredding scissors. And then you don't have to store a regular pair of scissors and a shredding pair of scissors!

Where can we get those shredding scissors??

P2 -- Crates in the house are retreats for dogs. Places for them to feel safe and out of the way. Kind owners never close the door unless the animal needs to be confined for health, safety, or training purposes (as in house training). Unkind owners -- who should not be allowed near animals -- crate for the entire work day, and again at night, and whenever they can't deal with the dog. The "caves" featured are meant to provide the same kind of retreat that a correctly-used crate does, and they are inappropriate for even that temporary shelter. They are not adequately vented, nor are they inviting for the animals. DWR features (or at least used to) a round crate/table which is very popular, unfortunately, as it is not an appropriate place for an animal to be confined. There are too many examples to cite here.

The plans that Thomas describes are not pet-appropriate either. Please, Thomas, go to a pet-supply Web site and look at crates. Try Drs. Foster and Smith, or Valley Vet Supply. There are some attractive, and correctly-designed, options out there.

My point in taking the time to post here is just this: I am deeply bothered when this craze for good design takes precedence over the needs of the occupants of the household. And that includes -- most important in my own personal value system -- the needs of young children and pets. The supplies for both of those groups are often cumbersome and unattractive, but if you have kids or pets in your home, their needs should come before style...100%.

Um, calm down. At a typical $600+ price tag for designer dog digs like these, I don't think this is a true trend that will lead to widespread offense to your hardcore PETA sensibilities. Yikes.

But I have heard alternate, respected, professional opinions about the use of a crate, in the true sense. Perhaps there is room for more than one opinion?

The Pet Cave is, in my estimation, on par with a dog bed. Nothing more. As an animal activist, shelter volunteer and pet product developer, I feel pretty confident in saying that this is not meant to be used in loo of a cage. Pat, you have valid points for the use and function of the dog cage but as I said, this is a high design alternative to the simple pet bed. And I think it's great. My pets would LOVE IT!

Pat, I appreciate your concern for pet safety, but I fail to see how this is not pet appropriate. As PTOO point out, this is an indoor dog/cat house, not a [training] crate. As you state, this is a quiet place to which your pet can retreat to for some quiet R&R.

The opening should provide plenty of air (see dogloos) and you can also cut in some additional side or top ventilation slots. In my brainstorm of a design idea, I did not intend to provide a locking mechanism for a hinged door. The translucent window was to allow the pet to both observe their family while giving them additional privacy. The pet house should be large enough for your pet to stand and turn around in. I assume the caretaker would insert a pillow/bed/blanket to make the pet comfortable. It's raised off the floor to avoid drafts.

My dog loved his previous (non-round) airline approved crate. We retired it as there wasn't a suitable location for it in our new apartment. He now sleeps on a comfortable pile of blankets on the floor, but I think he'd enjoy a proper "den" again.

I think the point of these items (and interior design in general) is to combine functionality with appealing aesthetics without sacrificing one for the other. I don't see how this pet cave is sacrificing functionality.

I think you're confusing the issue. Yes, people who crate their dogs or cats for 8 hours a day are being unkind to their pets. No, this has nothing to do with this pet cave, as it is not a crate.

My cats like any sort of enclosed area, from crawling into boxes, spending time under the bed, hiding in the kitchen cabinets (one of which they have learned how to open themselves to crawl in), and spending time in their travel crate (which I currently have under a table with the door always open). I have plenty of really ugly cat toys and scratchers around the apartment - and I wouldnt' get rid of them because my cats adore them. But, if I can replace some of them with something a lit more stylish you bet I will! The fact that this "cave" doesn't have a door on it means that the pet will choose by themselves whether or not they to spend time in it.. why freak out about a non-issue?

I found their website: http://www.the-pet-project.com/
But, as you can tell, it is only a splash page. Anyone know where there are pictures of some of their other products? (There are a few on Moco Loco, http://mocoloco.com/archives/001530.php) That much for a pet bed is more than I can afford, but like Thomas my DIY gears are turning. Would love to see what else they make!

Pets, shmets.
I'm more puzzled at that bidet/toilet combo.
Excuse my frankness, but whose bottom part would be comfortable atop of that bidet?

Pat, I have to take issue with your statement that "unkind" owners crate their dogs during the workday.

Some dogs can be left uncrated with no issues. However, there are certainly many dogs with issues such as separation anxiety where leaving the dog uncrated would lead to destructive behaviours. In these cases I think it's far better to crate the dog rather than let them work themselves into a frenzy of destruction.

Provided the dog gets adequate attention, exercise, food, water, bathroom breaks and love, there is nothing wrong with crating for a few hours at a time.

Am I the only one that loves the Matwalk? I think it would be great for business travel (although I would probably forget to pack it just like I forgot to pack slippers this week) -- hotel carpet is muy scary...and yes, I carry Purell with me at all times. Someone has to be neurotic, after all.

Pat, have you ever owned a cat? That thing is a cat's dream come true. They love to climb into anything with just one opening--wardrobes, boxes, whatever. It's like a den out in the wild world.

I don't see how it's unsafe or a substitute for a crate.

Maybe two or three months ago This Old House Magazine featured kitchen renovation projects with special pet built-ins. Everything from hidden under the counter cat litter boxes (I think it had a night light) to food and litter storage. It all looked very custom and very expensive, but then they had a page of diy ideas including a cat box bench and couch-level dog bed made with beadboard and pine. Not very modern, but if you're going for a cottage look very cute. They of course have also previously featured a dog house contest with dog houses designed to look like miniature versions of their owners' "old house."

Can you imagine the result if AT tape queen Jill ever collaborated with Scotch Tape Guy (ha! Just made that connection) Lambie?!?!

matwalk looks like it has serious safety issues if you tried to walk. if you could walk safely at least you be a low tech floor buffer.

My cats would adore that pet cave. Any creature that can slide in between five inches of space at the back of the dresser drawer would be completely content in that thing. The only danger I see is the fights over which cat gets to "own" it.

But what I really want to know is when they're going to make one like it to hide the litterbox!

some people may not think the pet issue is important to AT, however it is they are our family members and live in our apartments with us. While pat may sound lathered up, there is an important point being made, about treating your pet with respect for their feelings. crating for 2 hours is one thing but pat is talking about people who use it as punishment or control. as if a dog could understand that.
however from a design point of view, those crates are an eyesore.

That may be Patrick. It's the blanket statement of "if you shut the door without a health/training/safety purpose you're a bad pet person" I take issue with.

There are many well-meaning would-be pet people who give up "problem" dogs because it was too "cruel" to crate train them.

We inherited a dog who had been poorly raised (crating WAYYYYY overabused) and our first mistake was giving him the entire run of the house. He FREAKED.

It would have been more humane to wean him off the tight confinement little by little, but we didn't know any better then.

After that, and seeing the remarkable little by-product of proper crate-training inmy friend's Norfolk terrier (Miss Gertrude Rose!!), I am a staunch believer.